Method and apparatus for preparing imaged light

An optics system controlling light directed from a light source to an imaging medium, the optics system comprising:

• a condenser lens positioned to receive light from the light source;
• at least one modulator having a plurality of individually addressable reflective elements, wherein the condenser lens images the light source onto the at least one modulator and the at least one modulator selectively redirects portions of the light in a first direction according to the print data;
• and
• an imaging lens positioned to receive the redirected portions of the light, the imaging lens focusing the received portions of the light onto the imaging medium, wherein a numerical aperture of the condenser lens is equal to a numerical aperture of the imaging lens so that the modulator is critically illuminated.

A method of projecting imaged light onto an imaging medium according to print data, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating light with a light source;
• imaging the light source through a condenser lens onto at least one modulator, the at least one modulator having a plurality of individually addressable reflective elements;
• selectively modulating light from the light source according to the print data to direct a modulated portion of the light through an imaging lens onto the imaging medium;
• and
• critically illuminating the at least one modulator by setting a numerical aperture of the condenser lens equal to a numerical aperture of the imaging lens.